Bellamy said recently he wanted to manage his country, and many fans would love to see the Cardiff forward or Manchester United's Ryan Giggs in charge after a lukewarm response to Coleman, who succeeded the late Gary Speed in January 2012.

But patriotic Coleman said: “I don’t want to hand over to someone who I don’t think will do the same job as me.

“I have had two years’ experience and don’t want to pass it on to someone else who hasn’t.

“For some people in some quarters it may put a smile on their face in the short-term. But it doesn’t mean they are necessarily going to be the right man for the job.

He said: “If you have been a good player it doesn’t mean you are going to be a good coach or manager - I promise you that. That may not be the case if Craig decides to do that, and the proof will be in the pudding.

“But one thing I have found in this job is I have been a manager 10 years and it is unlike anything I was ever used to. It is completely different and is an eye-opener.

“It doesn’t matter how good a player you have been or how good a manager you think you are going to be. You have to get in it, experience it and you sink or swim because it is totally different to playing.”

(Photo: Getty)

News of the 43-year-old’s decision to continue has not gone down well with a section of Wales supporters.

Coleman, whose side host Finland in a friendly on Saturday, steered Wales to fifth place in their six-team World Cup qualifying group.

But they ended the campaign by beating Macedonia and getting a creditable draw away to World Cup-bound Belgium, despite a raft of injuries.

Coleman added: “I guarantee you, most of the people who say what they say probably don’t even come to watch us. People who talk on websites don’t know what they are talking about and basically don’t have an ounce of footballing intelligence.

“Whatever they are saying about me I am not bothered as long as they are behind the team.”

And Coleman reckons he can get Wales to qualify for Euro 2014 if star men Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey turn out regularly.

Coleman, whose backroom staff will remain unchanged after coach John Hartson's decision to step down, added: “I want to have another crack at it with these players.”